“I understand, my boy.”
Lo turned and headed to the altar where Devyn and Meco stood. All eyes were on him, and he loathed it. Flying under the radar was where he felt safe. Lo played the background like tunes in a department store. He didn’t need attention. He wanted everyone to ignore him so they couldn’t recognized the scars he had.
Lo’s gaze scanned the crowd and stopped at his biggest opps. Ada sat whispering something to Dax who smiled. He hadn’t seen his father in years. It felt foreign sharing a space with him. This was the first time Lo had seen Dax in his chair. He had gotten shot after he moved out of the home. The memories he possessed of his father were him walking and taking charge. His walk used to be a smooth one that he and Meco had inherited. They were truly his little twins. Everything Dax possessed, he had passed down to him and Meco. When Ada looked forward and locked eyes with Lo, he quickly looked away.
Fuck…
That would have a lasting impact. All of this would, and no one would be able to save Lo from any of it. His family assumed his bitterness toward his parents were the reason he chose no contact with them but that wasn’t completely the truth. They were walking triggers. Being in their presence reminded him of the brokenness that was now his ally. After years of fighting the feeling, Lo finally embraced it without protest. He was a broken nigga. A man who had demons waiting in the lobby of his mind, ready to be enfolded by him.
Meco leaned closer to him. “Aye, you good?”
Somehow, his brother always sensed when he was triggered. As much as he trusted Meco, Lo couldn’t confide inhim about his struggles. Besides, they had so many unresolved issues that their dirty hamper was overflowing at this point.
“Yeah, I’m straight.”
Lo stated that so effortlessly. He would never be straight. Nothing would ever be normal again, but he was a man, and he couldn’t fathom confessing that reality. He had to protect himself from everyone, including his family. The pastor walking toward him interrupted the conflicting mood he was in.
“Congratulations,” the older man spoke in a low tone.
Lo gave him a nod and watched as all the guests hurry to their seats. It was an intimate setting with both sides of the family filling all the chairs. Lo hadn’t seen some of his relatives in years, opting out of family functions for the past two decades. Everyone suddenly rose from their seats. Many men stood in this position filled with much emotion, but Lo was empty. Bria would soon find out what kind of man she married. He wasn’t a romantic guy who rubbed feet and sent flowers. Lo didn’t know how to be a woman’s man. He came and went with ladies, not bothering to open the door to his heart for them to come inside. Closed off was his code. Making sure no one was introduced to the terrors that resided inside of him was his first priority. He didn’t know how Bria would conform to his nature. He had no instructions on how to deal with him. She would need all the prayers she could obtain because Lo was certain he would be her hardest trial.
Bria’s two sisters waltzed down the aisle in their black silk dresses and bouquets. Lo didn’t pay much attention to them since he was centered on Bria. A veil covered her face as she and Douglas slowly walked down the aisle. A violin glided through the space as a woman in the first row dabbed her eyes with tissue. Lo avoided allowing his gaze to trickle toward Ada. If he remembered her like he thought, she was for sure being extra and crying.
When Bria and Douglas arrived at the altar, he turned and lifted her veil, revealing a face so stunning, Lo couldn’t peel his eyes away.
Douglas kissed her cheek before giving her to Lo. Helping her up, she faced him and sucked in a deep breath. Her shifted gaze alerted him that she was nervous, and she should have been since life with him wasn’t going to be easy on her.
“You got time to run, if you want,” he joked to her in a low tone.
Bria peered at him, rumpling her perfectly shaped brows. “It’s too late now.”
“No, it’s not. You can dip right now, and I won’t be offended. It’ll only be too late after we say I do.”
She pondered his warning for a brief second, and he hoped he made things clear to her.
“I’m ready.” She nodded.
He smirked then looked at the pastor. “Make us one.”
Bria couldn’t believe she was now Mrs. Kylo Crown. The reality of her being married didn’t even seem real. She had been little Bria for most of her life. She was the baby, the one that still lived at home with her parents while traveling the world and living out her dreams. Now, she had Mrs. to add to her resume. The reception was beautiful. Glitz and glam wouldn’t have done the space any justice. It was magnificent with a black and white color scheme that paired so beautifully together. Shimmering chandeliers dazzled brightly, projecting a glowing light to cast over the room. Their names were projected on the wall. Photo booths were placed throughout the space while custom flowers adorned each table.
Peering over at Lo, Bria noticed him talking to his twin brother. All the Crown men were handsome and shared a resemblance. His brothers were kind, and Devyn let her know if she needed anything to reach out. Meco was more standoffish but not rude.
Cali leaned over to Bria with a glass of champagne in her hand. “Girl, now why Dad couldn’t hook me up with your husband’s twin?”
Snickering, Bria retorted, “Girl, that man is married already. Can you believe Kaylona is his wife? I’m too fanned out that she and Satori Harper are at my wedding.”
“Yeah, that’s crazy but I don't know why you're geeked as if you're not a big deal yourself.”
Shrugging, Bria knew her talent shined brightly but she was still down to earth. Not one to gloat about all of her accolades, she preferred to stay grounded to reality instead of letting an overly inflated ego be her downfall.
“Yeah, I know but they're a big deal. I’m more lowkey with my career.”
“If you say so… hey, do you think you're going to fuck your new husband tonight?” Cali grinned.
She shrugged, not certain of what was set to happen tonight. “I’m not sure. We’re only going to a hotel since I requested that we don't go on a honeymoon.”
Cali’s brows rumpled as her head jerked back. “Girl, why would you request that? You could’ve been in Bora Bora getting your back blown out.”
